Best family electric SUVs 2026 – the top EVs for you and your family rated

Not too long ago, Smart was known for making tiny cars designed for city streets, so in some ways it's surprising to see the same brand today making electric SUVs. And the Smart #5 is the largest of the lot, sitting above the smaller #1 and #3.

The Cheapest #5, called the Pro, comes with a single 335bhp motor driving the rear wheels, and while it's perfectly decent enough for everyday driving, we'd recommend choosing the Pro+, because it comes with more poke, at 358bhp, but also gets a bigger battery. At 94kWh (usable capacity), it boosts the #5's official range to 366 miles, which is very good by class standards, if still slightly behind what the Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD can manage.

The #5 is a fine car in which to while away motorway miles. Not only is it very quiet, with little noise from the suspension or mot0r, but it's also easy to drive smoothly, whether you're building up speed or accelerating. Your passengers will find it relaxing, too, because they'll have more room to stretch out in the rear seats than they would in rivals such as the Citroën ë-C5 Aircross or MG S6.

"I was pleased to see that the #5's 110-litre 'frunk' isn't only useful for holding your charging cables, because I managed to fit an extra carry-on suitcase inside too." – Oliver Young, reviewer 

Read our in-depth Smart #5 review

The Skoda Elroq is currently the smallest electric SUV Skoda makes, slotting in underneath the larger Skoda Enyaq in the Czech manufacturer's range –but don't think that small can't be mighty, because the Elroq is very competent in all of the areas which matter to family electric SUV buyers.

For a start, it's very competitively priced. Indeed, even before you take our discounts into consideration, you'll pay less for an entry level version of the Elroq than you would for most of its rivals, including the Renault Scenic and Tesla Model Y. It also helps that even the cheapest trim level, SE, comes with most of the kit you're going to want, with 19in alloy wheels, LED headlights and climate control all coming as standard.

You can choose from 168bhp, 201bhp and 282bhp versions of the Elroq and it's the top-end model, badged as the 85, which we recommend for its keen pace – in our hands, it managed the 0-60mph sprint in 6.2sec, which is faster than the equivalent Renault Scenic.

While some family electric SUVs such as the MG S5 EV place you a little higher up inside the car, the Elroq's driving position is nonetheless very comfortable, and the seats have plenty of side bolstering to hold you in place through the corners.

"My favourite Elroq feature is the optional cargo net which holds your charging cables, since it means you don't have to hide them away beneath the boot floor, where you'll have to remove all of your luggage to get at them. Instead, the net holds the cable underneath the parcel , making them far easier to access." – Dan Jones, Reviewer

Read our in-depth Skoda Elroq review

In times gone by, the Renault Scenic was a fairly frumpy people carrier, but this latest version is bang up to date with styling as sharp as an Armani suit, and the kind of statistics which turn your head in its direction.

Let's start with the power. There might only be one motor and battery combination available in the Scenic, but it's a very good one. The 215bhp motor offers a 0-60mph acceleration time of 8.6sec, which is plenty powerful enough for everyday driving, if not quite as quick as the Skoda Elroq or Tesla Model Y can manage.

Arguably more important to electric SUV owners, though, is the range – and the Scenic has plenty of that. Indeed, its official figure of 381 miles is further than any version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Skoda Elroq can manage.

You sit higher up inside the Scenic than you would in the Kia EV6, and you get a good view over the dashboard and bonnet. A rear-view camera and all-round parking sensors should help to avoid any car park scrapes, but if you need more assistance than a 360-degree parking camera is on the options list.

"I appreciate that the Scenic has been tuned for comfort rather than agility. Its steering is fairly light, even in the sportiest driving mode, and its ride does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps in the road. The Scenic is also impressively quiet at speed." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Renault Scenic review

A former What Car? Car of the Year winner, the Kia EV6 remains a solid choice in the family electric SUV market. It's best sampled in cheaper RWD form, with a single 225bhp motor driving the rear wheels. This ensures you get the longest range, and we'd expect you to easily manage 300 miles from a full charge in real-world conditions, especially in warmer months. 

The performance from the RWD version is strong rather than, erm, electric. But with the 0-60mph sprint being completed in 7.1 seconds, you won't be too far behind rivals such as the Cupra Tavascan or Ford Capri. Speaking of the Capri, the EV6 is far more settled than that car over broken surfaces, offering a very agreeable ride at this price point – for something softer, you'll need to spend more on a Genesis GV60.

The EV6's driving position is a halfway house between an executive car and a high SUV, so while you don't get a commanding driving position like you do in a Range Rover, you still sit higher than you would in most cars, and that means you get a good view out the front. Seeing out of the back is hampered by the Kia's huge rear pillars and rising window line, but all models come with front and rear parking sensors, plusa reversing camera.

"I like the EV6 but I do miss a rear wiper for the rear window – on damp winter mornings it takes a little too long to clear." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Read our in-depth Kia EV6 review

Comfort is the name of the game for Citroën's largest electric SUV. You see, it's deliberately set up to have a soft ride, and that means that you'll glide over potholes and other road imperfections in a way that few rivals can manage. And on faster undulating roafs, the body control from this electric version is better than on some versions of the conventionally-powered C5 Aircross.

The trade-off to that focus on comfort is that the ë-C5 Aircross isn't especially exciting to drive. The steering starts off light, for example, and doesn't weight up as you build speed, and there's lots of lean through faster corners. You won't want to go fast, then, which is one of the reasons why we think the entry-level Comfort Range model, with its 207bhp motor, is the one to go for. It'll sprint up to 62mph in 8.9 seconds, which is about the same as the Vauxhall Grandland Electric.

The comfort theme continues inside, with a good driving position which places you high above the road, and plenty of adjustment for the seat and steering wheel, ensuring drivers of all shapes and sizes can find a setup which suits them.

"There’s a decent list of standard features within the ë-C5 Aircross' system, including wireless Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto smartphone mirroring and built-in sat nav.
“One of the few physical buttons is a car icon which, when held down, switches off lane-assist, driver monitoring and speed sign recognition. I found that really quick and handy when jumping in and out of the car." – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer

Read our in-depth Citroën ë-C5 Aircross  review

Further up this list we've already seen the brilliant Skoda Elroq, and that car owes a lot to its bigger brother, the Skoda Enyaq. This was the first electric SUV to be launched by the Czech brand, but it's set a fantastic template and remains a thoroughly recommendable choice.

This facelifted Enyaq is available in two versions, dubbed 60 and 85. The former has a 201bhp electric motor which offers enough punch for everyday driving, but isn't as fast as rivals including the Tesla Model Y ot Hyundai Ioniq 5. The more powerful 85 model gets more power, which reduces that sprint time down to 6.5sec, which is quicker than most rivals. In terms of the longest range, it's the 85 which you'll want, with this being officially able to take you up to 359 miles on a full charge.

While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are both slightly more accommodating for rear-bench passengers, a couple of six-footers won't struggle to get comfortable in the Enyaq. And neither of them will need to pack light for the journey, because we managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases into the boot, which is only one less than the Tesla Model Y managed.

"I value comfort over sporty driving, and the Enyaq is one of the most comfortable electric SUVs around. Its ride is especially smooth on the motorway, so it's a top choice if you're planning on covering long distances." – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Skoda Enyaq review

In the increasingly cut-throat world of family electric SUVs, MG's S6 has a bit of an ace up its sleeve. You see, although it faces rivals including the Kia EV6 and Skoda Enyaq which already major on offering buyers value for money, the MG undercuts both of them on price. And that means it's great value for money, especially if you stick with the cheaper versions. 

Thankfully, it's the cheaper models which we recommend. Even entry-level SE trim gets most of the kit you'll want, including heated front seats, wireless phone charging and a head-up display. Opting for that crucially also keeps the S6's price below £40,000, which means you won't be stung for luxury car tax.

In Single Motor form, the S6 comes gets 241bhp and can hit 62mph faster than the equivalent Skoda Enyaq. If you fancy more oomph, then Dual Motor versions get more power, at 375bhp, reducing the 0-62mph time to 5.1 seconds. Single-motor versions have an official range of 329 miles, which falls to 301 miles in Dual Motor models.

 “Our test car had a panoramic sunroof, but it didn’t cut into my head room.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Read our in-depth MG S6 EV review

The Ioniq 5 is an electric SUV which will certainly turn heads, because it looks like nothing else on the road. But while its styling might be a bit divisive, the ingredients poured into this electric SUV are top-notch. 

It's the entry-level car which is our favourite. This gets a 60kWh (usable capacity) battery and a 168bhp motor, but before you shout that it doesn't sound like much in what is a big and heavy SUV, consider this – it still offers a respectable 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds, and has an official range of 273 miles, which is more than the entry-level Kia EV6 can manage. You'll need to spend a bit more on the larger 80kWh battery to get more range, but we don't think most drivers will need to bother.

Despite not being styled like a traditional SUV, the Ioniq 5's driving position will be familiar to SUV drivers, because it places you high up with a good view of the road ahead. It's a shame that while the digital driver's display looks snazzy, part of it can be hidden from your field of view depending on where you set the steering wheel position. Elsewhere, your passengers can enjoy more rear leg room than in the Skoda Elroq or Tesla Model Y, though the latter beats the Ioniq 5 for head room.

"Although it looks like a family hatchback in pictures, the Ioniq 5 is huge. I didn't have to slide the front seats forwards to free up leg room for passengers in the back." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Hyundai Ioniq 5 review

Amid such strong competition, the Peugeot e-5008 has a bit of a trick card to play, because it's the cheapest seven-seat electric car you can buy. Indeed, despite offering the ability to take more passengers with you than any other car on this list, it undercuts key rivals by a substantial margin. The Mercedes GLB, for example, is thousands of pounds more expensive, as is the Kia EV9.

So what do you get for your money? Well, a decent amount of space for a start. You won't want to stick anyone too tall in the third row, but with the middle row of seats pushed forwards, there's enough leg room for your passengers to keep blood flowing on longer trips. Head room is quite tight in the back, though, and remember that while the rearmost seats might look tempting for kids, there aren't any Isofix mounting points back there.

There are three versions of the e-5008 to choose from, and it's the 73kWh version which we recommend. This gets you a 211bhp electric motor which can cover the 0-62mph sprint in 9.7 seconds. That's not especially quick, but is punchy enough for everyday driving.

“At around 5ft 11in, I get a comfortable amount of leg room in the third row of the e-5008 if you slide the middle-row seats forward a few notches. The top of my head touches the roof but it's fine for a short trip.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Peugeot e-5008 review

If you thought that putting a family sized electric SUV on your driveway would be an expensive business, then the MG S5 EV is here to prove otherwise. You'll pay less to buy the entry-level car, with its 211-mile official range, than you would for rivals including the Jeep Avenger Electric, Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq, but bear in mind that those rivals all offer longer ranges.

If you want to go further on a charge, then the Long Range model ups the official range figure to 298 miles, which puts it roughly into the same league as rivals. Doing so also gets you a stronger 228bhp electric motor, which helped the car to acheive a 0-60mph sprint time of 6.1sec in our hands. That's quicker than any Kia EV3 or Renault Scenic can manage.

While the S5 doesn't feel quite as airy inside as a Skoda Elroq, a couple of six-footers will still be perfectly comfortable on its rear bench. The boot is decently sized, too, and managed to fit seven carry-on suitcases in our tests. Just bear in mind that, unlike some rivals, the S5's rear bench can't slide back and forth or recline to liberate more leg room or boot space as required.

"I was impressed with the interior quality in the S5 EV. It's a noticeable step up from the MG ZS EV which it replaces." – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth MG S5 EV review

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